Shock-absorbing mechanism



Dec. 31, 1929. J. F. O'CONNOR SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Fild Sept. 6,1927 2 shuts-sheet 1 1929. J. F. O'CONNOR 1,741,651

' SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM med se t. 6. 192'! 2 Shoots-Shoot 2 Ju/ewrWm .9 W op Patented Dec. 31, 1929 entree srATss PATENT: OFFICE JOHN F.OCONNOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLI'IQ'OI53, ASSIGNOR'TO W. H, "MINER, INQ, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION .OF DELAWARE SHOCK-ABSORBING MECHANISM:

Applicationfiled September 6, 1927. 'SeriaI No. 217,809.

This invention relates to improvement in shock absorbing mechanisms.

One ob ect of the invention is to provlde a shock absorbing mechanism ofhigh capacity 1 specially adapted for railway draftriggings,

including relatively movable. follower members and interposed laminatedspring means in the form of disc members of channel shaped section.Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbingmechanism comprising relatively movable follower members and springresistance means interposed between said. follower members, including amain spring resistance co-operating with spring followers, and auxiliaryspring resistance means of lesser capacity interposed between the springfollowers and the main followers, adapted to be compresse d during theinitial portion of the compression stroke, together with positive stopmeanslimiting the compression of said auxiliary spring resistance means.

In thedrawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 isahorizontal sectional view ofa portion of a railway draft riggingillustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is avertical transverse sec tional view corresponding substantially. to

30 the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectionalview of the front end portion of another embodiment of my inventioncorresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4: is anend -eleVa-.

tional view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3.

.In said drawings, referring first to the em-.

bodiment ofv the inventlon illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, 10 indicatechannel shaped center sills of a railway car underframe, to theinner-sides ofwhich are secured the usual front stop lugs 11-11 and rearstop lugs 1212. The rear endportion of the draw bar is designated by 18,to which is operative 1y connected a yoke 14, of well known form. Theshockabsorbing mechanism proper, a .front main follower 15 and arearmain follower 16are disposed within-the yoke, the yoke in turn beingsupported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 17 securedan inwardly corresponding casin The front and rear follower casings Aand Bare substantially in the form of box-like members, each having acylindrical central opening 19, and outer end walls 20. The end walls 20co-operate with'thefront and rear followers .15 and 16, respectively,having flat bearing thereon. The follower casing A has the central bore19 thereof enlarged at the rear end, as indicated at 21 andtelescopically receives a cylindrical extension 22 on the rear followercasing 13. The casings are so proportioned, that relative approach ofthe same will be limited by the front end of the cylindrical portion 522of'the casing B coming into engagement-with the end wall of the opening21 of the casing A, and the rear end of the extension of the casing Acoming into abutment with the shoulder at the inner end of thecylindrical portion 22 of the casing B.

Each of the casings A andB is p'rovided'with extending central hollowboss 23 formed integral withthe end wall 20 of the The spring resistancemeans comprises the central main spring resistance D and front and rearauxiliary spring resistance elements E E. The spring followers C C,which are in the form of relatively heavy discs, are interposedbetweenthe spring resistance D and the auxiliary spring resistance members E-E.As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, the spring followers are normallyspaced from the inner ends of the enlargementson the front and rearcasings A and B,the enlarge- .ments e23 acting as pressure transmittlngposts to limit relative movement of the easings and the spring followersThe spring resistance D comprises a plurality of disclike members,eachof the disc-like members being provided with a central openingadapted to freely accommodate the retainer bolt G. The body portion ofeach disc-like plate between the periphery thereof and the centralperforation is curved in cross-section, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Inother words, each spring plate is in the form of a dished annularmember. The discs forming the spring resistance D are so arranged thattwo adjacent members have the concave surfaces of the dished portionopposite, so that there is contact between the same at two spacedannular zones, one contact zone being at the peripheries of the discsand the other zone near the central portion thereof. The convex outersurfaces of the pairs of discs are in face to face contact thusproviding bearing 7 contact on an annular zone.

The auxiliary spring resistance members E also comprise a plurality ofplate-like members, in the form of dished rings. In other words, eachspring plate of the auxiliary spring resistance members E is in the formof a channel shaped ring. The ring members of each spring resistance Eare arranged in pairs, the members of each pair having the concave facesthereof opposed thereby providing bearing contact at two spaced annularzones, one zone being at the peripheries of the rings and the otheralong the edges at the openings of the rings. As shown, the outer convexsurfaces of adjacent pairs are in abutment, thereby providing bearingengagement on an'annular zone. As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, the ringmembers of the spring resistance elements E surround the bosses or posts23 of the front and rear follower casings A and B, the openings in thering members being of such a size as to freely accommodate the posts 23.

The mechanism is held assembled and of over-all uniform length by theretainer bolt G, which has its opposite ends anchored within the bossesor posts 23 of the front and rear follower casings Aand B. The bolt isso adjusted as to place both the spring resistance D and springresistance members E under initial compression.

The operation of my improved shock absorbing mechanism, as illustratedin Figures l and 2, assuming a compression stroke, is as follows: Thecasings A and B will be moved relatively toward each other upon relativeapproach of the main followers and 16 thereto, compressing the springresistance elements D and E. The spring resistance elements E are oflesser capacity than the spring resistance D, and consequently will becompressed to a greater extent than the spring resistance D during thefirst part of the compression stroke. The compression of the springmembers E and D during the rela tive approach of the main followers Aand B will continue until the spring followers CC are engaged by theposts 23, whereupon further compression of the auxiliary springresistance elements E will be prevented and the main spring resistance Dwill be compressed between the spring followers C during the re mainderof the compression stroke. The described action will continue eitheruntil the actuating force is reduced, or movement of the followercasings A and B is limited by engagement of the inner ends of the same.During release, upon the actuating force being re duced, the expansiveaction of the spring resistanee elements D, E and E will restore all ofthe parts to a normal position, outward separation of the casings A andB being limited by the retainer bolt G.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and4c, the same comprises broadly front and rear follower casings H and Kof hollow box-like form provided with a cylindrical bore. As mostclearly shown in Fig. t the'casings are provided with intercngagingarm-like extensions 30, the front follower casing I-I being providedwith said extensions on the opposite sides thereof, while the rearcasing is provided with the extensions 30 at the top and bottom sidesthereof. The extensions 80 of the front and rear follower casingsinterengage and are provided with bevelednieeting faces as most clearlyshown in Fig. i. The spring resistance means M, comprising a pluralityof disc-like plate members, is disposed within the casings H and K andhas bearing on the end walls of the casings. The disc-likemembers M areof substantially the same design as the disc-like members D described inconnection with the first form of the invention, with the exception thatthey are not provided with central perforation.

The mechanism is held of over all uniform length and maintainedassembled by retainer bolts N, which are disposed at the four corners ofthe casings, the casings being provided with longitudinal bores toreceive the shanks of the retainer bolts N. The operation of theimproved shock absorbing mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8 and t,'issubstantially the same as that hereinbefore described in connection withFigs. 1 and 2, with the exception that there is no preliminary springaction, the entire set of discs, comprising the main spring resistanceN, being compressed throughout the compression stroke of the mechanism.

As most clearly shown in Fig. 2, the casings A and B, employed inconnection with the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1and 2 may be provided with openings 31 at the four corners thereof toavoid heavy section of metal atv these points. It will be evident thatwhen the central bolt Gris omitted discs of the type shown in Figs. 3and 4 may be employed in place of the perforated discs D illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2.

WVhile I have herein shown and described what I now consider thepreferred manner of carrying out the combination with relatively movablemain follower casings having cylindrical interior spaces, one of saidcasings having a cylindrical end section telescoped with the inner endof the other casing; of spring followers interposed between said mainfollowers; a spring resistance comprising a plurality of co-acting ringshaped spring plate elements interposed between said spring followersand fitted within said spring spaces; additional spring resistance meansinterposed between the spring followers and main followers; and abutmentmeans on said main followers cooperating with the spring followers forlimiting relative movement of said, main and spring followers.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rearfollower cas-' ings having central interior abutment posts thereon; oflaminated spring ring members within said casings, said ring memberssurrounding the abutment posts; front and rear spring followersco-operating with said laminated members, said spring followers beingnormally spaced from the posts and engaged thereby before fullcompression of the mechanism; and a main spring resistance interposedbetween said spring followers.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 3rd day of September, 1927.

JOHN F.. OCONNOR.

